May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- Judie Brown, President of American Life League (ALL,) issued a statement yesterday responding to the 48 Catholic members of the U.S. Congress who sent a letter warning Theodore Cardinal McCarrick about the political repercussions of withholding Communion from pro-abortion Catholic politicians.

May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- Three men from three ethnic backgrounds will be ordained for the Archdiocese of Denver this week. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM. Cap., will lay hands upon Deacons Kevin Augustyn, José Sáenz, and Joseph Tran May 22.

May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- “New Zealanders have always cherished the fundamental value of freedom, justice and peace. Indeed, in the face of aggression or threat, they have generously sought to defend and promote such rights in the Pacific and beyond,” said the Holy Father this morning on receiving Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand.

May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, headed by Cardinal Renato Martino, opened today a study session on the social and economic development of Africa in the era of globalization.

May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- The Catholic-Jewish Consultation Committee met in New York April 20 to discuss their respective views of “The Passion of the Christ” as well as Catholic-Jewish relations in the aftermath of the film.

May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- According to the Committee’s statement, Catholic schools and religious education groups should use these documents if they plan on the film in order to “guide students so they will be familiar with the deep theological significance and complex historical context of the Passion narratives that no single film could fully convey,” says the statement.

May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- Australia's bishops have taken up Pope John Paul's call to tackle secularism in Australian society and to encourage the observance of the Sunday mass. The bishops made this commitment at their plenary meeting, which focused on broad renewal and education with regard to the Eucharist.

May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- The renowned Polish film director Krzysztof Zanussi says there is a terrible polarization between the communications media and faith, and that the label Catholic “is not well-liked by anyone in our society.”

May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- The chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Archbishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, said this week in Valencia, Spain, that religion is important for the intellectual development of children.

May 21, 2004 - 12:00 am .- In order to mark the 10th anniversary of the papal encyclical Veritatis Splendor, the Pontifical Universtity of Argentina is organizing an international theological congress in September, bringing together Catholic intellectuals from around the world.